The Caps finished their season 28-0-1 and won the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A championship.

"It is not a true national championship because there is no national playoff, but it is a great tribute to this team and to our previous teams to be ranked this highly in a national poll," Broughton coach Izzy Hernandez said.

Broughton won the NCHSAA 4-A title in 2006 and was 26-1.

"Last year's team beat a couple of nationally ranked teams and I think that helped this year's team get some more recognition," Hernandez said. "This is a tremendous honor for our soccer program.

"We went into overtime in a couple of our playoff games so it wasn't like we were knocking away all our competition, but we found a way to win."

The Broughton girls are a national power, as well, and have been ranked No. 1 in the Student Sports final poll. The Caps girls were ranked at some point during the season every year from 1991 through 2006.

RICHMOND STARTS FAST: Southern Lee junior guard Akeem Richmond opened his season in fine fashion as he scored 36 points in the Cavaliers' 94-84 victory over Garner on Tuesday.

The 6-foot Richmond averaged 20.8 points per game last year and is getting recruiting attention from ACC schools.

"He beat us," Garner coach Eddie Gray said. "We didn't play great defense against him, but he put the ball in the basket."

SOFTBALL PLAYERS SIGN: West Johnston had three softball players to sign with colleges last week and Harnett Central had a pair.

West pitcher Amanda Davenport and Kelsey Eddinger signed with UNC-Wilmington.

Davenport has pitched seven no-hitters and 17 shutouts.

West's Ashley Fowler signed with the College of Charleston.

Central shortstop Toni Williford signed with N.C. State and catcher Heather Nobles is headed to Pfeiffer.

Williford has struck out just 15 times in 325 at bats and has a career on-base percentage of .550.

Nobles hit .377 last season with an on-base percentage of .408.

RAVEN SOARS: Ravenscroft's 6-9 junior Ryan Kelly has scored 30 or more points in two of the Ravens' four games and is averaging 27.0 points per game.

Kelly is attracting national recruiting attention.

BEST IS BLAZING: Sanderson's 3-0 start has been led by 6-8 senior David Best, who is averaging 31.3 points per game.

He has scored at least 26 points in each game.

TRIPLE DOUBLE: Southeast Raleigh junior guard Lakevia Boykin had a triple-double in the Bulldogs' 68-45 win over Rocky Mount after narrowly missing the mark in the season-opening 68-53 win over Enloe.

Boykin had 22 points, 11 assists, 10 steals and 3 rebounds against Rocky Mount.

She opened the season with 16 points, eight assists, 10 rebounds and three steals against Enloe.

ROSE LIKES PLAN: Greenville Rose likes the N.C. High School Athletic Association's preliminary realignment plan.

The plan adds Rose and Harnett Central to the Greater Neuse 4-A and moves Holly Springs to the Tri-Eight

"Our coaches are excited about it," said Tommy Peacock, the Rose athletic director. "If the Raleigh area schools would let us in we'd be pleased.

"There would be some travelling for us, but probably no more than we have now."

EMERSON PROGRAM NEEDS HELP: The Chapel Hill Emerson Waldorf basketball teams are holding fundraisers in hopes of salvaging their boys and girls seasons.

"We need to raise $7,500 by Dec. 20 or we will cancel the entire season," said Corey Reid, the school's athletic director.

Emerson Waldorf has 50 students in grades 9-12 and 18 play basketball.

The California Pizza Kitchen at The Streets at Southpoint mall in Durham will donate funds to the basketball program from its proceeds on Dec. 11 if patrons have a flyer from the school.

For details, contact Reid at (919) 201-9970.

GO ONLINE: Go to highschoolextra.newsobserver.com for the latest news about area high school basketball.

The site is under construction, but the rosters and schedules of most area teams are complete, along with summaries from area games.

There are leader boards for teams and individuals.

Results often are updated on-line minutes after games are completed.

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